Epping man, sister plead guilty to murder charges in Exeter killing

BRENTWOOD – An Epping man and his sister pleaded guilty on Thursday to their roles in killing 36-year-old Amanda “Amy” Warf, and agreed to become key witnesses against another family member headed to trial as an accomplice in the murder plot.

Aaron Desjardins, 37, of Epping pleaded guilty to first-degree murder for killing his ex-wife as he stood in court alongside his sister, Michele Corson, 44, of Skowhegan, Maine who admitted to providing her brother with a .32-caliber handgun used to kidnap Warf outside her workplace last March 7.

The two plea deals approved by Judge Marguerite Wageling on Thursday made Desjardins and Corson witnesses against Desjardins' new wife, Sarah Desjardins, who faces accomplice to first-degree murder and other charges.

Warf's charred body was found last March 7 by firefighters at the closed City Concrete plant after responding to a blaze set by Desjardins meant to destroy the body and evidence, prosecutors said.

Warf, who had a one-year-old son with Desjardins, died from her throat being slashed, prosecutors said.

Desjardins is expected to spend life in the prison without parole for pleading guilty to first-degree murder. He was also convicted to conspiracy to commit murder and hindering apprehension.

Corson is expected to receive a 15-to-30 year prison sentence for pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit murder, but can petition to cut six years from minimum prison term for her cooperation and being a witness during Sarah Desjardins' trial. Prosecutors dropped an accomplice to first-degree murder charge against her.

The sentencing hearings are expected to be held next February after Sarah Desjardins' trial in February.

For more on this story, see Friday's edition of the New Hampshire Union Leader.